Page Two
THE JEWISH NEWS
The Foundations
Have Been Laid
BY PIERRE VAN PAASSEN
(In the absence abroad of Phineas J. Biron)
Polities and Church
A Challenge to Pastor Martin Niemoeller
By the REV. WILLIAM C. KERI ■ lAN
Director, Christian Institute for American Democracy
Friday, July 6, 1945
Between
You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
What has happened in the last quarter
After all that happened in Nazi Germany it was surprising, if not shock-
century in Palestine is really this: there,
(Copyright, 1945, Jewish Telegraphic
ing, to read in the New York Times that in an interview, Pastor Martin
Agency, Inc.)
in the Holy Land, the - foundations have
Niemoeller, recently released from a concentration camp, claimed no
been laid down for the Third Hebraic
ON
THE
WATCIIOUT
political opposition to the Nazis." He said that "as a churchman he was not
Commonwealth. The wails of Israel's own
interested in politics,, but that he was unable to accept any authority that
Jewish organizations in America are
house are up. The garden has been laid
claimed a right to override that of the Church."
more concerned than ever over the in-
out. The road has been built. Even now '
It is quite futile for churchmen to pretend that they can be disinterested
crease of anti-S e m i t i c propaganda
the roof is being put into place. And
in politics. In the case of the Nazis it was indispensable to the realization
throughout the country . . . With the war
there is good hope, too, if regard is had
of their political ambitions that the myth of "Aryan" supremacy should have
in Europe over, anti-Semitic groups are
to the phenomenal growth of pro-Zionist
been created, that "non-Aryans," according to their definition—Jews first
becoming more and more active, since
sentiment in America, where vast num-
and later Poles, Yugoslays, and Russians—should have been persecuted,
they are no longer afraid of being ac-
redu\ed to slavery or, as in the case of the Jews, annihilated.
bers of Jews and a great many non-Jews
cused of spreading Nazi propaganda . .
This was highly immoral conduct according. to Christian standards and
have had their eyes opened in recent
One central Jewislikbody dealing with the
neither the Church, nor any spokesman for the Church, has the right to say
years to the beauty and the justice of
that Christians could be indifferent to it.
work of combatting anti-Semitism says
the ideal of Zion Restored—there is good
outspokenly that it "foresees no miracle
As the Church, and Dr. Niemoeller; learned too late, a State which could
hope that the completion of the national
that will wipe out' anti-Semitism in our
maintain its power only by suppressing opposition had ultimately to suppress
structure in Eretz Israel will not be de-
the Church herself as well . as those of her spokesman who, like Dr. Nie-
time" .. . The disclosure that the Army
layed overlong.
moeller, finally came to their Christian senses by remembering the words
and Navy distributed a correspondence
In the midst of the anxiety and un-
of the Apostle—"We ought to obey. God rather than men." It is said that
course containing anti-Jewish statements
certainty of the present moment of his-
Dr. Niemoeller gave these words a modern interpretation by declaring, "Not
is adding to the pessimism prevailing
torical transition it is perhaps well to
you, Herr Hitler, but God is my leader." It is also said that for proclaiming
among Jewish groups here . . . Although
look at the marvelous achievements of
this true principle of the Gospel he was arrested and imprisoned.
the course was recalled, it is obviout that
the Jewish people's pioneers in the Land
He was on sound ground when he proclaimed this true principle. He
some persons in the Army and Navy
came to it, however, only after the heavy hand of Nazism had been laid on
of Israel, and to rejoice, to break into a
must have been interested in distributing
the Church. The persecution of the Church -by the Nazis was an immoral-
hymn of joy and gratitude, if only to
act to be sure. But so was the peresecution of the Jews, decreed by Nazi
it . . Copies of this course reached
pierce the gloom that has prevailed in
politics, which preceded it. Dr. Niemoeller should have been as concerned
Jewish organizations about three months
Jewish life since Adolf Hitler came to
about the persecution of the Jews as he was about the persecution of the
ago . . And negotiations for the recall
power—an unburdening of emotions, as
Church. He should have seen, as we should see, that immorality in the
of the course were conducted quietly in
it were, for all these years in which we
political realm cannot be divorced from immorality In other realms. The pity
the hope that the entire affair would
have seen evil. Every lover of Zion, he
is that, after the facts are so clear, Dr. Niemoeller should still say that he
receive no publicity . . . Apparently with
h.?. Jew or non-Jew, has ample reason to
was not opposed to Nazi politics, but only to the persecution of the Church.
the intention of counteracting the anti-
feel glad and be proud of what has been
Jewish propaganda contained in the
done in Palestine.
*
*
*
course, the War Department, last month,
issued an "orientation fact sheet" in which
The Land of Israel is teeming with
Army officers were instructed to impress
creative activity from the one end to the
upon the servicemen the fact that racial
other. Palestine has fiinctioned -and • con-
prejudice is contrary to the ideals for
tinues to function as one of the most tell-
which - America fights ... No such action
ing, most effective contributing factors in
is
known to have been taken so far by
.
By
ARNOLD
LEVIN
By
PHILIP
SLOMOVITZ
the cause of Allied victory. The sons of
the Navy Department.
the New Palestine have been in the fore-
(Copyright, 1945. Independent Jewish
A BETTER JEWISH PRESS
* * *
Press Service, Inc)
front of the legions advancing upon the
heart of Festung Europa. In .Greece, in STATE DEPT.
An aspiration of many years.' duration ZIONIST SIDELIGHTS
Walter -Winchell thinks that Avra War- on the part of the better Jewish news-
Crete, in the Libyan desert, in Ethiopia,
The Arabs in Palestine have won a new
in Sicily, on the Italian • mainland the ren of the State Department might know
"friend" in the United States ... I mean
men
in
America
to
form
an
effective
Pagan swastika has been forced into re- whether it is true that Fritz Mandel, al-
the women's organization known as "We,
treat before the banners of the Star of leged baptized Jew and fascist collabora- Jewish press association has been fully the Mothers; Mobilize for America" . . .
David. Without the industries of Pales- tionisLand his friend, Prince Ernst von realized.
This' organization is now circulating a
tine, said Lord Strabolgi in the House of Stahremberg, • Austrian Heimwehrist and
petition emphasizing that "Palestine was
The
American
Association
of
English-
Lords, Britain may well have suffered Mussolini's protege, were admitted into '
the home of the Arabs for 4,000 years,
a disaster in the Near East greater than the United States. Mandel, according , to Jewish Newspapers, whose executive and for many thousand
years was the
Dunkirk or Singapore.
frequent reports, is the architect of committee held a two-day_ session in De- cradle of Christianity" . . . The "mothers"
The Palestinian Jews have built them- Argentina's war machine. Avra Warren troit last week, promises to become a therefore ask that "Palestine be con-
selves • an army on top of a national eco- barred refugees from the United States force • for great good in the America
_ n trolled by Christians throughout' the
nomic apparatus which for • its size is when he was in charge of visas for the
world" . . Another petition circulated
without peer anywhere in the _world. State Department. Due to Warren's dila- Jewish community.
by the "mothers" demands that all Jews
Their system of social laws and institu- tory tactics, 500 Jewish orphans remained
The reason for the reality of the move-
designated members of a "separate
tions, based • on the precepts • of the bottled up in Vichy . France during the ment and for the optimism of its spon- be
distinct nation," regardless of place of
Prophets, is today the -object of the ad- war, despite State Department clearance
sors is the enrollment in the association birth or residence . . . It asks Congress
miration and • the solicitude of all the for their - removal to Anierica.
of the country's leading newspapers. The to proclaim the Jews a separate "race"
world'S men of good will, who know
because "Jews have never been assimi-
that something worthwhile and preciotis
ablest men in the field are investing their lated and have retained their nationality".
has again come out of that Zion whence center in Palestine. By the: radiation of time and their money to the end that
Hayim Greenberg, the Zionist labor
Torah shall go forth. in the fullness of its• life-giving energy it will revive the
time: The educational system of • the drooping and withering Jewries in the their newspapers should become vital leader who resigned the chairmanship of _
country, comparable to that of the most Diaspora and make them, too; contrib- factors in American Jewish life; that the the executive of the Zionist Emergency
advanced European lands, topped by the uting factors to' the civilization of the chief basis for good newspaper distribu- Council, is determined not to accept any -
tion—GENUINE CIRCULATION--should official position in the Council even after
great university on Mount. Scopus and peoples among whom they dwell. -
The spiritual frameWOrk is ready and become' a major goal in their 'existence; the Silver-Wise - conflict is straightened
the House of Healing which Hadassah
has built, might well be the pride. and - in Palestine the physical framework, the that the contents of their newspapers out . . . But the Mizrachi may return to
envy of many a richer and larger state. economic, social and material framework should be improved in order to, give them the Council from which it withdrew its
And with all' that the Hebrew language has been set up- to receive, absorb and the status they should possess as the representatives as a result of the internal
is a living arganism,again and flourishes integrate vast masses of Jews, all the organs of their respective Jewish conl- fight.
* * *
in a rich new literature, growing strong Jews, in fact, who are at present in .dis- munitles.
* * *
as a tree grows strong, as the spoken tress in the European, chaos and who, as
MEN AND DEEDS
the two international conferences on "VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
idiom of vast numbers of Jews.
Judge' Samuel Rosenrnan, an intimate
*
*
*
refugees showed, have no other place to
The program announced by the Amer-
Great and marvelous things these! go on earth but their own land, Eretz ican Association of English Jewish News- friend of the late President Roosevelt
and one of President Truman's advisers,
Things well worth talking about and Israel. _
papers is whdlesome and most interesting. had an opportunity to become the mayor
*
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*
even worth shouting about from the
The editors and publishers made known of New York . He declined the offer
What is the world going to - do about,
housetops, if only the Jewish people, who
a program at their Detroit meeting which to run for mayor in the forthcoming
have just come through the most grue- it? Will the world let Israel live, or reflects
their sincerity,
municipal elections, even though he
some ordeal in their long and melancholy must he again take up the wanderer's
,would
probably have been elected by an
staff
and
recommence
that
doleful
jour-
history, will take heart once more, will
They are not only aiming at large
regain the courage and that faith which ney to and fro in this Christian world coverage and the improvement of their unprecedented majority.
Baron Edouard Rothschild, who was
alone sustained their fathers through of ours, driven from pillar to post, leav- products: they also aim to play a lead-
catastrophe after catastrophe, as it so ing an imprint of blood wherever his ing role in training Jewish newspaper- forced to leave France after Petain con,
often sustained those who inherited • it footsteps pass? Or will the world at last men who should be prepared to be the eluded an armistice with the Germans,
from Judaism when experience and end the scandal of history and=in the builders of the better English-Jewish returned this week to his home in Paris.
reason threw all their weight into the new era which stands before the door press which is to serve American Jewry. . . During his five years of "exile" in
now that the war for freedom "every-
scale of despair.
At the moment, there is a dearth of New York, he took an active interest in
Jewish affairs, particularly in affairs
Both in Palestine and in America the where in the world" has been fought' and good Jewish
newspapermen serving the
foundations have been laid; in Palestine won—also give the Jewish people its English-Jewish field. • Heretofore, these concerning French Jews.
the physical framework of the Hebraic rightful place in the sun?
Mary Zimmerman, the 76-year-old
newspapers were merely another busi-
Commonwealth, in America the ideolog- - This issue can no longer be evaded. ness, benefiting enterprising advertising
chairman
of the Hebrew University corn-
ical patterns of a great movement through The fate of the Jewish people can. no salesmen. Those working in the editorial
the fact that hundreds of thousands of longer be referred to the Greek Calends.. departments were either inexperienced- , mittee in Chicago, received a citation
from"the University of Chicago for work
Jews are ready to help translate into The hour of - decision has come. If the men and women or misfits.
action the ideal of. Jewish national re- Jewish people do not get their common-
done in building up' a Scholarship fund .
By recognizing the need- for the train- from among the alumni of Marshall
generation. Moreover, the war has .shown wealth in Palestine now, after all the
one thing, something .on which the Gen- magnificent contributions they have made ,ing of able men and *omen to make the
tiles were never in doubt," but which to the victory of democracy and after the Jewish newspapers their careers, the High school where she was a teacher for
some Jews sometimes foolishly: deny— immense suffering the Jews have under 7 editors and publishers al our best Eng- 46 years . .. The fund enables worthy
namely this: that the Jews are not mere- gone, what chance will they have in years lish-Jewish weeklies are doing several high school -graduates to continue their
ly a religious, community of great an- to 'come, when everybody will have for- things:
studies in college . . . The War Depart-
tiquity '(they are that, too), but that they gotten—and will want to. 'forget—what
They are 'making it possible for their
are also a people, a people with a terri- was done by Jews in the years 1939-1945? papers to: have skilled professional edi- ment has • awarded to 'Capt. Lewis L.
-'Strauss, former _ president • of Temple
The establishment of a Jewish Com-
tory of its own, with a history, with wars,
torial workers; and. they are creating
dynasties; a civilization of its own and a monwealth in Palestine is by no means vocational - opportunities for young men Emanuel in New York, an Oak Leaf
great epic.' literature which has moulded a lbst cause. It need not, in Herzl's words, and young women who desire to serve Cluster to the Legion of Merit .. . The
the thought of, half the civilized world. be a fairy tale if we will_it—that . is, all the. Jewish community well.
award was . given to him for `!exception-
The peoplehood of the Jews is an unde- who love Zion and who -understand what
The American Association of English- ally meritorious conduct in the per-
niable, tangible fact for all the world to . the establishment of a Jewish state means
to the Christian world and to the Jewish Jewish Newspapers is no longer an ex- formance of outstanding services of in-
see and to reckon with.
For that civilization of the Jewish people in redemption and regeneration. periment. It is a •reality; and it is - a chal- estimable value".
people, Judaism, is again ready and will- A mighty,: superhuman effort is now re-. lenge, to those newspapers-. which con-
The Assoc _ iated American Artists have
ing, trembling in the pOrtals of time, as quired. That effort Will be , made in the tinue to function w irresponsibly and • as become the exclusive agency for the
it were, to become a contributing factor next few months. A fire is going to. be gossip sheets to quit fooling the public
to the sum total of civilization by oper- •lit that will sweep away and consume and to begin to function in a spirit de- paintings of James N. Rosenberg, who is
of- the great community '
known riot only as an outstanding Jewiall_
ating from a spiritual-national Jewish all obstacles in its path.
. serYing
A
copY-xiglita .40, Seven.. Arts FeatureSyndkatti
Inerican Jews.
•
leaders but also as a fine artist. •
.
Heard in
The Lobbies
Purely
Commentary